Jonathan Byrd plays songs from "Cackalack" in the studio.

Chris Koza will perform another round of Works for Words on June 8, 2012 at 8 pm at the Fitzgerald Theater. Koza, along with Gabriel Douglas of 4onthefloor, Caroline Smith, and Sims will explore explore the meanings of the lyrics and importance of words in pop, rock and folk songs.

It's been nearly 10 years since Sam Beam donned the Iron and Wine moniker and released his debut "The Creek Drank The Cradle" in 2002. Since then, he's expanded the arrangements from his voice and an acoustic guitar to including a variety of other instruments, and he continues the trend on his newest album "Kiss Each Other Clean."

The Knoxville, TN trio Royal Bangs have come a long way after playing an old soccer arena and coffee shops as teenagers. After starting their band in high school, growing to a five-member band that played SXSW in 2009, they decided to downsize their band to the current three piece. In recording their latest effort, "Flux Outside" the band enlisted the help of Scott Minor of Sparklehorse to engineer and help produce the record. They also had help from Dave Fridmann, who has worked with the Flaming Lips, Tapes 'n Tapes, MGMT, and Low, on the mixing.

From Duluth to the Twin Cities to Portland and back, local singer-songwriter Haley Bonar, has used her change of scenery as inspiration on her fourth album, Golder.

If you're a TV On The Radio fan, you'll enjoy this and if you've been kept away by just the idea of an "art rock" band, this is the album to try.

After over ten years making music together, local hip hop duo Atmosphere are are focusing their latest effort, "The Family Sign" on the people they care about the most - their family.

Duluth-based indie-rock mainstays Low have returned with their ninth full-length album, "C'mon," which features guest turns by Wilco guitarist Nels Cline as well as members of Trampled by Turtles and the Trans Siberian Orchestra (yes, you read that correctly).

Sam Beam, who performs under the name Iron and Wine, brought his signature acoustic sound (and beard) to Minnesota Public Radio's UBS Forum, playing a couple of songs off his newest record "Kiss Each Other Clean".

Patton Oswalt might have missed his calling. Okay, he didn't really - if we had been denied his unbelievably hilarious, smart, biting comedy, it'd be a shame. But when he does his old-style "laid-back public radio announcer voice," you will bust a gut laughing at how on-the-money he is. Plus, he has a genuinely awesome taste in music - this despite his own "horrible tastes" he had growing up in suburban Virginia, "going to see Genesis play stadium shows."